THE ION-ELECTRON METHOD OF BALANCING REDOX EQUATIONS

1. Divide the equation into two skeleton partial equations. Balance the atoms that change their
oxidation numbers in each partial equation.
2. Balance the O and the H atoms in each partial equation.
a. For reaction in acid solution
i. For each O atom that is needed, add one H 20 to the side of the partial equation that is
deficient in O.
ii. Add H+ where needed to bring the H into balance.
b. For reaction in alkaline solution
i. For each O atom that is needed, add one H 2O to the side of the partial equation that is
deficient in O.
ii. For each H atom that is needed, add one H2O to the side of the partial equation that is
deficient in H, and add one OH- to the opposite side.
3. To each partial equation, add electrons in such a way that the net on the left side of the
equation equals the net charge on the right side.
4. If necessary, multiply one or both partial equations by numbers that will make the number of
electrons lost in one partial equation equal the number of electrons gained in the other partial
equation.
5. Add the partial equations. In the addition, cancel terms common to both sides of the final
equations.

Example of a reaction that occur in acid solution

3+¿ +C l ¿
2

C r 2 O 2−¿+Cl
−¿→C r ¿
¿
7

In this unbalanced equation H2O and H+ are not shown. The placement of H 2O molecules and H+ ions will
be determined in the course of the balancing.

The two partial equations are:

3 +¿ ¿

C r 2 O2−¿→ 2C r ¿
Reduction: 7

Oxidation: 2 C l−¿→ C l ¿2

For every O atom that is needed add one H 20 to the side that is deficient, and then the hydrogen is
balanced by the addition of H+.
3+¿ +7H O ¿
2

+¿+C r 2 O2−¿→2 Cr ¿
¿
14 H 7

2 C l−¿→ C l ¿ 2

The next step is to balance the net charge of each equation:

3+¿+ 7H O ¿
2
2−¿ →2C r ¿
+ ¿+C r 2 O7 ¿
−¿+14 H ¿
6ⅇ

2 C l−¿→ C l ¿ + 2ⅇ
−¿¿ 2
See to it that when you add the two equations the electrons are cancelled. Since the we cannot cancel
the electrons we will multiply the first equation with 2 and the second equation with 6.
3 +¿ +14 H O¿
2
2−¿→ 4C r ¿
+¿+ 2C r2 O7 ¿
¿ =12 ⅇ−¿+ 28 H ¿

¿ + 2ⅇ−¿¿ 6 12C l −¿ →6 C l ¿ + 12ⅇ

−¿¿
= 2

_______________________________________
2+¿ +¿ ¿
2−¿ M n 3+ ¿+ 6 Cl 2 + 14 H2 O¿
12C l −¿ →4 C r
¿

28 H +¿+2 Cr 2 O7 ¿ ¿

Since the coefficients are divisible by 2 the final answer will become:
3+¿ +3C l +7H O ¿
2 2
−¿ → 2Cr ¿
2−¿+6 C l
14 H +¿+C r O
¿
2 7
¿

Another example still in acid solution:

2+ ¿+ H3 As O4 ¿
A s O →M
Mn O−¿+ 4 6 n ¿
4

The half reaction equation:

→¿
Mn O−¿ M 2+¿ ¿
4 n

A s 4 O6 → H 3 As O4
−¿ → ¿

¿ M 2+¿ 8 M 2+¿
+ ¿+8 MnO 4 ¿
¿ ¿
n + 4H2O) 8 40ⅇ−¿+24 64 H ¿
n + 32H2O

(10 H 2 0+ A s 4 O 6 → 4 H 3 As O 4 +¿ 8 H 18 50 H 2 0+5 A s 4 O6 → 20 H 3 AsO 4 +¿ 40

+¿¿ −¿¿
+ 8ⅇ )5
H +¿¿ + 40ⅇ−¿¿
=============================================
−¿ →¿
24 H +¿+18 H 0+5 A s 4 O6 ¿
20 H 3 As O 4 +8 M 2+¿ ¿
2
+ 8 Mn O 4 n

Balance the following, all the reactions occur in the acidic solution:
−¿+ I ¿
2
−¿→ Cl
I ¿
(1) Cl O −¿+
3
¿

−¿ ¿
−¿→ H 3 A S O4+ Br ¿
(2) H 3 As O 3 + Br O 3
−¿→ I 2 ¿
(3) H 3 I O 6 + I
−¿¿
2−¿ +IC l ¿
−¿ → SO 2 ¿
−¿+ C l 4
¿
(4) S O 2−¿+ I O 3 ¿
2 3

For the reactions occurring in alkaline solution, OH - ion and H2O are used to balance O and H. For each O
that is needed, one H2O molecule is added to the side of the partial equation that is deficient. The H is
balance next. For each H that is needed, one H 2O molecule is added to the side that is deficient and one
OH- ion is added to the opposite side.

Example for alkaline solution:

 N H → Mn O2 +N 2¿
MnO−¿+
4
2 4

¿+ 2 H 2 O + 40 H −¿¿) 4
−¿→4 Mn O2 ¿
12ⅇ−¿+16 H 2 0+ 4 Mn O4
+ 8 H 2 O + 160 H −¿ ¿
¿

−¿¿

¿) 3 120 H −¿ +3 N 2 H 4 →3 N 2+12 H 2 0+12 ⅇ ¿

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